BLAYDON will be boosted by the inclusion of three Newcastle Falcons players for today's National Two match at home to Henley.

But hopes of fielding a fourth in Ross Beattie were dashed when he suffered a groin injury in training, bringing further frustration for the highly-rated back row man, who has yet to appear since rejoining the Falcons last summer.

Another big Falcons forward returning from injury, Andy Buist, joins skipper Dave Guthrie in the second row as Dave Whitehead awaits Monday's hearing following his dismissal in the cup win at Preston Grasshoppers.

The line-out will be further strengthened by the inclusion of Eni Gesinde at open side, while Tom Dillon is at centre as Adam Dehaty needs another week to recover from a dislocated thumb.

The chances are that both Dillon and Dehaty will be recalled by the Falcons next week, when they lose four backs to England, but Blaydon hope to hang on to the forwards for a few weeks.

They have ex-Consett player Andrew Harrison back at prop and Selwyn St Bernard at blind side, while Nick Gandy continues at fly half alongside Dom Shaw.

Blaydon play their fifth-round EDF Energy National Trophy match at Esher next week, with the league visit to leaders Manchester being put back to March 8.